Any type of traumatic event leaves behind consequences on the daily life of a traumatized person. The most serious traumatic experience is the one inflicted by another person, whereas the cruelest among them is wartime rape in which a person, even before the rape, is repeatedly exposed and abused in various ways through capture, detention in concentration camps, separation from the family, intimidation, humiliation and infliction of physical, psychological and mental pain. Evidently, rape is only the culmination of all other forms of abuse and therefore particularly traumatic.
Wartime rape occurred during the Homeland War around the Archdiocese Đakovo-Osijek as well, so we decided to point out the difficulties concerning the issues of the wartime rape which largely affected the victims of the war. This criminal act did not stop after the wartime period but, unfortunately, still continuously occurs in peaceful times.
The aim of this paper was to speak about the wartime rape during the Homeland War. We considered the causes of wartime rape as well as the consequences still suffered by the victims. By giving a historic overview of legal acts on the international and national level, we tried to define it as a crime that requires punishment for the perpetrators.
In addition to the theoretical part, the large part of the specialist thesis is based on the results of the survey conducted with the victims of the wartime rape during the period of the Homeland War around the Archdiocese Đakovo-Osijek to explore experiences, attitudes, feelings and difficulties that the victims still confront. According to their testimonies, the coping mechanisms for facing the war trauma and wartime rape are still present. Although legal, psychological and medical assistance are organized, the victims still lack spiritual support for them and their family members as well as support and empathy from the society.
The final part emphasizes the importance of psychosocial assistance and particularly spiritual support through pastoral guidelines for the victims and their families.